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Rob Gronkowski has spent much more time on the sideline over the last calendar year than the Patriots would prefer.

The tight end missed seven games last season (including playoffs), and he has been a spectator for the first two contests of the 2013 campaign. His status for Sunday’s matchup against Tampa Bay remains unclear — Gronkowski repeatedly referred to himself as “day-to-day” on Wednesday — but Tom Brady said the team is preparing for another week without its top offensive weapon.

“I just assume [Gronkowski’s] not playing until they tell me he’s going to play,” Brady told reporters. “We dealt with him injured for a lot of last season, too … I think we know how to play without him.”

For more on Gronk’s recovery, plus an update on Danny Amendola, check out the video above.